Events Leading to Emigration
Compare these dates/reasons to the time your ancestor emigrated.
1618-1648, The Thirty Year's War
1661-1664, The War Against the Turks
1668, The War of Devolution
1674, The Dutch War
1688-1697, The War of the League of Augsburg
1701-1714, The War of the Spanish Succession
1733-1735, The War of the Austrian Succession
1740-1742, 1744-1745, 1756-1763, The Schlesien Wars
1778-1779, The War of the Bavarian Succession
Germany 1650-1750 Factors Influencing Emigration and Migration
1661-1664, The War Against the Turks
1688-1697, The War of the League of Augsburg
1701-1714, The War of the Spanish Succession
1700-1720, Settlement of Virginia, Middle Colonies and Carolina Tidewater Regions by German Palatines and Scotch-Irish
1720-1750, Conflict between Germans and The English/Welsh colonists caused Germans to settle westward at Lancaster, Conestoga and York, also southeast to Maryland and Virginia
1733-1735, The War of the Austrian Succession
1740, Swiss and Germans settle Bucks, Berks and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania
Germany 1750-1800 Factors Influencing Emigration and Migration
1750, Flat boats invented for navigation on inland waters
1750, Cumberland Gap was discovered
1750, Immigration deflected from New York to Philadelphia
1750's, French and Indian Wars
1760-1790, Revolutionary War period
1764, South Carolina settled by Germans
1775, The following passages were established west through eastern mountains:
Canada via Hudson River and Lake Champlain
Ohio via Mohawk River and Lake Ontario
Ohio via Susquehanna River and Nonongahela River
Ohio via Potomac River and Monongahela Rivers
Ohio via Roanoke and Kanawha Rivers
Germany 1800-1830 Factors Influencing Emigration
A rise in food prices.
Asian Cholera epidemics
Decline in the economy affected farmers and small businesses who were no longer able to exchange goods for services.
The cost of marriages increased in most of Germany. 1 out of every 5 children born out of wedlock
Germany 1830-1845 Factors Influencing Emigration
The economy was unable to support Germany's dense population.
Taxes and the cost of getting married increased.
Remaining in Germany meant farmers and small business people had to settle for lower
standard of living, which they wouldn't do.
As land was divided among each generation, the size decreased, making it difficult to support families.
Germany's poor social conditions included an increase in briths and deaths.
Increase in the printed material and letters from family and friends in America, made Germans aware of free land and no taxes in America.
Additional cholera epidemics.
There was a threat of Revolution in Germany.
Germany 1845-1900 Factors Influencing Emigration
1845, Potato faminie. Yes, in Germany too!
The German Revolution of 1848 failed.
An extended railway system made it cheaper and easier to leave from Hamburg or Bremen.
Some German governments paid passages for criminals and people on welfare.
Whole communities were emigrating.
1860-1864, Emigration decreased during the Civil War in America.
1863-1869, Emigration increased because of conflicts in Germany.
1871, Emigration decreased in 1871 when Germany became an Empire.
1871-1885, Emigration increased because of the U.S. Homestead Act.
Compare these dates / reasons to the time your ancestor emigrated.